Sexo

Male

Fecha de Nacimiento

1921-12-9

Lugar de Nacimiento

Los Angeles CA, U.S.A.

Inducted

1944-2-6, Ft.Sheridan IL

Tipo de Alistamiento

Draftee

Afiliación Militar

Army

Tipo de servicio prestado

War

Tipo de unidad militar

Combat

Unidades a las que sirvió

442nd Regimental Combat Team, Co. F

Especialidad militar

Automatic Rifleman

Asignado

USA; France; Italy.

Retirado

Camp Beale CA

Responsabilidad en la unidad

To spearhead campaigns/battles

Responsabilidad individual

Automatic Rifleman

Batallas principales (si sirvió en una zona de guerra)

North Appennines; Po Valley; Rhineland

Reconocimientos, medallas, menciones (individuales o de la unidad)

Europe African Middle Eastern Campaign; Distinguished Unit Badge; Good Conduct; WW II Victory Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge; Army of Occupation.

Condiciones de Vida

1). Living conditions during basic Training were much the same as in Manzanar....rows and rows of barracks, mess halls, common latrines and confined by barbed wire. In Manzanar we slept, played and worked when boredom took over...In Camp Shelby we lived in similar barracks, confined by the military and prepared for war. 2). Combat meant sleeping on dirt, cement, in foxholes we dug whenever we could find shelter. We didn't bathe until we were replaced from the front line of combat but rinsed ourselves hastily whenever we passed through a village with a fountain. Our toilets were wherever we dug a hole. 3). Men from the rear delivered our meals. They brought K-rations in boxes designed to fit into the large pockets of our uniforms. Breakfast was a can of scrambled eggs, a few crackers, chewing gum, a small packet of cigarettes, a packet of powdered orange juice and a candy bar. Other meals were similar but the main dish varied. When we were rotated from the front line our kitchen cooked 'C' rations. This meant warm canned foods such as spam or corned beef which caused diarrhea in many of us. 4). During combat primary entertainment was cleaning weapons and sleep.

Recuerdo más vívido de la experiencia militar

We were pinned down by fire all day on Mt. Belvedere. Darkness fell and the war stopped as though a work-day funished. We dug in 30 or 40 yards below the enemy. Tak Fudena and I positioned ourselves on the extreme flank and looked into pitch-blackness. Tak held his rifle firmly in his hands and took the first watch. I fell asleep instantly and dreamt of Germans. Tak felt a tug on his rifle. He tugged back. He heard German and realized that the enemy was at the other end. A tug-a-war began. Tak could not fire his rifle because of his gloves. He pulled and the German pulled....the German tore away Tak's rifle and Tak yelled, 'Gerry!' I sprang up with arms spread and grabbed air. I ended below our fox-hole with my mouth full of dirt. I grabbed my BAR ...Fudena pointed. I fired a burst in the blackness and the mountain lit up like a stage play on Broadway. After the sparks in our eyes cleared, Tak pointed in another direction and said, 'He went that way'. I asked, 'Why did you point the other way?' He replied, 'I didn't want anyone to get hurt'. I realized that there was more to 'war' than I thought but was curious how Tak thought as he fell back into deep sleep this time without dreams of Germans.

Lo que más extraño durante su tiempo en las fuerzas armadas

I missed my girlfriend...currently my wife.

¿En lo personal, qué obtuvo de su experiencia militar?

The most important thing I learned during combat was that I did not run and hide when the firing started. I gained self-confidence, stood tall and became a man.